Button attaching tool with feed channel in base



Jan., 16, 1951 N, E, Y0N 2,538,255

BUTTON ATTACHING `TOOI.. WITH FEED CHANNEL IN BASE Filed Feb. 25. 1948 Patented Jan. 1.6, l195i BUTTON ATTACHING TOOL WITH FEED CHANNEL IN BASE Newton E. Lyon, Denver, Colo.

' Application February 25, 194s, serial No. 10,837

This invention relates to an improved clothing button and to a device for attaching the improved buttons to clothing, and has for its principal object the provision of a button and means for attaching the button which can be quickly and easily used by anyone; which will eliminate all the usual sewing operations; and which will securely attach the button against loss without damage to the garment.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved button-attaching device;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections therethrough, taken on the lines 2-2y and 3--3, Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section through the improved button, illustrating it in the attached condition;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail cross-section, taken on the line 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 illustrates a stem employed in attaching the improved button;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the button of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section through an alternate form of button.

The improved clothing button comprises a button III, preferably formed of relatively hard, durable plastic and provided with a spacing flange II on its bottom side. The back of the button has a central opening for receiving an attaching stem I2, as shown in Fig. 6.

The stem consists of a hollow, tubular member having splits I3 extending inward from the end and provided with a relatively flat, thin head Ill.

The interior of the button I is hollow and is provided with a spreading point I opposite the entrance of the stem I2 so that when the stern I2 is forced into the button, the point I5 will enter the hollow, split extremity of the stem and spread it outwardly into the hollow button, as shown in Fig. 4.

The stem may be forced into the button in any desired manner. In fact, the buttons can be attached by hand by simply squeezing the stem I2 1 Claim. (Cl. 218-21) into the button I0 with a plier-like tool or driving it therein with a driving instrument. A special tool, however, is provided to facilitate the attachment of the improved buttons. This tool is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and comprises a sheet metal housing I6 having a hollow, rectangular, elongated, tubular base portion I1 formed therewith or permanently attached thereon.

A gripping handle I8 is pivoted upon a suitable pivot pin I 9 between the two sides of the housing It. The handle is provided with a lifting arm 20 extending forwardly from the pivot pin I9. A rocking link 2| is mounted upon a pivot pin 22 between the sides of the housing I5 forwardly of the lever 20. The link 2l carries a cross pin 23 which rides in a slot 24 in the extremity of the lever 2B.

n The forward extremity of the link 2l enters a plunger 25 which is vertically slidable in the housing I6. A pin 26 passes through the plunger and through a terminal slot 21 in the end of the link 2 I.

A spring 2B surrounds the pivot pin I9 and is secured at one extremity to the housing I6 and at the other extremity to the lever 20, and acts to constantly urge the handle I8 away from the. rearwardly projecting portion of the base I'I.

It can be readily seen that if the handle I8 is squeezed toward the base, it will cause the plunger 25 to move toward the base with increased leverage. The lower extremity of the plunger is provided with a pressure plate 35. The hollow interior of the base I'I is designed to receive a row of the stems I2 of Fig. 6 so that they may move successively forward to a position beneath the pressure plate 35.

The stems may be forced forwardly in the base I'I by means of a linger button 29 having a stem 30 which passes through a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom of the base I'I. The stem terminates inside the base II in a pusher block 3| which bears against the rearmost head I4 in the row. A spring 32 is inset in the linger button 29 and constantly urges a friction washer 33 against the bottom of the base I'I to hold the block 3| in any desired position therein.

The bottom of the base is depressed, as shown at 34, so that the pusher block 3l may be moved into the depression to allow additional stems to be placed in the base. Itis preferred to form a socket 36 in the center of the pressure plate 35 Ifor the initial reception of the stem I2.

In use, the foremost stem is placed beneath the button position Q11 the fabric. indicated at '31, Fig. 4, and the handle la is depressed. This forces the stem through the fabric into the socket 36. The tool is then opened and one of the buttons I is placed over the end of the protruding stem. The tool is again closed to force the button I0 down on the stem. This forces the split end of the stem against the spreading point I5 to spread the stem outwardly into the hollow interior of the button I0, as shown in Fig. 4. The button is now permanently and securely attached to the fabric 3l.

In Fig. 8 an alternate form of the button is illustrated, comprising a circular metal insert 38 imbedded in plastic 39, the latter forming the design of the button per se. The insert 38 is :formed in a flat cup-like shape having an open :side for receiving the extremity of the shank l2 and an inwardly extending rounded bulge 4i] for spreading the extremity of the shank i2- similarly to the actionof the spreading point I5.

With a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

HavingA thus described the invention, what is claimed and-desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A button attaching tool comprising an elongated base open at front andv rear ends a'ndhaving a bottomand a top wallandside walls, the bottom being formed with a longitudinally ex tending slot and havingy its front end portion projecting forwardly beyond the side walls and the top wall and constituting a fastener-receiving platform, apusher in said" base resting upon the bottom and havinga stein passing through the slot and a nger-engaging member at its lower end, the rear end portion of tne bottom being offset downwardly and thereby forming a depressed seat adapted to receive the pusher and dispose the pusher in a countersunk position allowing movement of fasteners into the base through the rear end thereof and forwardly across the pusher to a position in front of the pusher, a hollow housing extending upwardly from the base and forwardly in upwardly spaced relation tothe top wall and having its front end portion disposed over the platform, a plunger slidable vertically through the front end portion of said housing and provided with a button-engaging head at its lower end disposed directly over the platform, a handle over the rear portion of said base having its forward portion extending into the rear end portion of the housing and. pivotally mounted, an arm extending forwardly from the front end of the handle at an upward incline in the housing, and a linl: extending longitudinally in the forward portion of the housingy between the plunger and the arm and pivotally'mo'unted for vertical rocking movement and' havingits front and: rear ends pivotally and slidably connected with theY plunger and the front end of the arm.

NEWTON E. LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the the of this partent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 45,077 Reed Nov. 15, 1864 301,269 Porter July l, 1884 353,818- Richards Dec. 7, 1886 519,788 Carpenter May 15, 1894 580,556 Reinholdv Apr. 13, 1897 1,415,330 Frankel May 9, 1922 

